By Joseph Adahnu, Yola
Professor Iliyasu Audu, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) of Modibbo Adama University, has described recent fatal road crashes involving students as a major source of worry for the institution and renewed the call for the dualisation of the road linking the university.
Speaking in an interview, Professor Audu said the university lost several students to road accidents in the last two months. With over 4,000 students and more than 20,000 staff using the route daily particularly the stretch from the university axis the repeated crashes have become a serious concern for management.
“We have reached out to many organisations concerned about safety on our roads,” he said. “When crashes occur like this, it becomes worrisome to the management of the university, and that is why we are engaging all critical stakeholders toh ensure safe motoring,” he said.
The professor specifically appealed to the Federal Government to dualise the road from the bridge up to Girei, describing the project as urgent if the frequent accidents are to be reduced.
He also urged motorists to embrace responsible driving, undergo an attitudinal change, and stay off drugs while behind the wheel.
On the broader question of attitudinal change in Nigeria, Professor Audu said the problem runs deeper than individual behaviour.
“The attitudinal change I’m talking about starts right from our leadership. We need a responsible leadership and a responsible followership. What is happening in our country is a collapse of the value system. When we restore the right values, we will be able to entrench discipline in our children.
“As it is today, both leaders and followers must go back to the drawing board. Otherwise, Nigeria is losing. We are not transmitting the right character and morals to our children. We need an attitudinal change from top to bottom,” the Vice Chancellor noted.
